Indonesia's parliament on Thursday (March 20) passed a controversial revision of the National Armed Forces Law, despite protests staged by student groups and civil society organisations.
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00:00Can it be agreed to be certified as a law?
00:05Yes.
00:07Indonesia's parliament on Thursday passed a controversial revision of the National Armed Forces law,
00:13despite protests staged by student groups and civil society organizations.
00:17Don't be silent! Fight!
00:23House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani said the revised law introduces key changes,
00:29including expanding the Armed Forces' non-wartime duties,
00:33increasing its presence in government ministries, and extending military service.
00:38The protesters claim that the bill could bring Indonesia back to the draconian era of the late President Suharto,
00:44where military officers dominated civilian affairs.
00:48The struggle to remove political, social, and economic roles from the military is not easy.
00:57There have been many sacrifices.
00:59Many of my fellow students have died.
01:04Thousands of people have been killed, including in May.
01:09Dozens of activists have been kidnapped, some have not been brought back.
01:12And today, it's like we're going back in time.
01:19For 32 years, Suharto has been in power.
01:21There have been many cases of violence in the past,
01:23where there was military involvement.
01:26So, if the National Armed Forces will be strengthened,
01:31it will be more difficult for the victims and their families to reach justice,
01:36because the TNI's influence has been increased, not limited.
01:40We will definitely continue to be angry.
01:43We will be angry and disappointed with the government's actions.
01:49I think the government should be more inclusive,
01:54more inclusive to the people, more inclusive to the people,
01:58especially the People's Representative Council.
02:00But the People's Representative Council doesn't listen to the people.
02:04Article 7 of the law allows expansion of the military's role in non-combat operations,
02:10while Article 47 allows active-duty soldiers to hold positions in 14 government ministries.
02:17The law was passed under the leadership of Special Forces,
02:20Commander-turned-President Prabowo Subianto,
02:23who assumed office in October last year.